Umuedeokwara Odagwa, a prominent oil-bearing community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, has accused the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) of unlawfully reallocating several oil wells to neighboring Abia State, leading to an estimated daily revenue loss of ₦10 billion for Rivers State.
At the heart of the dispute is the claim that NPDC has falsely reduced the number of operational oil wells in Umuedeokwara, transferring some to Owoza, a community in Abia State.
Speaking exclusively to reporters at the Imo River forest, which marks the boundary between the two states, Chief Goodness Nwogu, a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF), described the situation as a blatant act of injustice.
“We have 15 oil wells, including Well 60, which has been operational since 1961. However, NPDC claims we only have eight, and out of those, only four are functioning. This is false. They have allocated several of our wells to Owoza in Abia State, depriving us of our legitimate resources,” Nwogu stated.
According to Nwogu, the diversion is more than an administrative oversight—it is a financial catastrophe. “By reallocating these wells, Rivers State loses at least ₦10 billion daily, based on an estimated oil production of 4,000 barrels per day (bpd),” he said.
Beyond the financial losses, the community warns that the situation could escalate into a crisis, as vital services meant for Umuedeokwara are now allegedly being routed through Abia State.
“Everything concerning our community is now handled through Abia State. This is unacceptable and could lead to conflict between us and our neighbors,” Nwogu cautioned.
Adding to their grievances, the community is demanding ₦50 billion in compensation from HEIRS Oil & Gas for an alleged oil spill that has devastated their environment since December 2024.
Ordu James, a member of the Community Development Board (CDB), accused HEIRS Oil & Gas of negligence and concealment.
“The spill has destroyed a large part of our vegetation. Although a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) was conducted, HEIRS secretly dug over 16 pits to divert the spilled crude. The damage is enormous, and we are demanding ₦50 billion for compensation, land remediation, and environmental restoration,” James stated.
He further lamented the community’s lack of basic amenities despite its contribution to Nigeria’s oil wealth.
“We have no hospitals, no electricity, and no employment for our youths. Why should we remain an oil-producing area if we continue to suffer neglect?” he questioned.
The community also accused NPDC of favoring Abia State, even alleging that Christmas palliatives meant for Umuedeokwara were distributed through Owoza.
Chief Nwogu called on the Rivers State Government to act swiftly to reclaim the diverted oil wells.
“We have 15 functional oil wells, two manifolds, one booster plant, one flow station, and one jetty. Yet, NPDC insists that some of these facilities belong to Abia State. Rivers State must act now to reclaim our resources,” Nwogu demanded.
The community has issued a two-week ultimatum to NPDC to reverse the alleged diversion.
“If NPDC fails to return the diverted oil wells within two weeks, we will shut down the flow station and the two manifolds,” Nwogu warned.
Read More: Rivers Community Takes Oil Giants to Court Over Alleged Non-Compliance
It is worth noting that efforts to reach NPDC for comments were unsuccessful, as several messages went unanswered.
With tensions rising, all eyes are now on the Rivers State Government to intervene before the situation spirals into a full-blown crisis.
